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Supporting our Armed Forces Community

QinetiQ has pledged its continued support to UK servicemen and women by signing the Armed Forces Corporate Covenant at Farnborough International Airshow 2016.

Chief Executive Officer Steve Wadey met with Defence Minister Philip Dunne on Thursday, 14 July to sign the Covenant, which ensures fairness and equal opportunity for Service and ex-Service personnel, Reservists and their families.

Originally signed by QinetiQ in August 2013, the Covenant has been updated to clarify the company’s commitments to its reservists, including improved line manager training and enhanced leave benefits. QinetiQ grants its employees 15 days a year in which to carry out duties as reservists in the Armed Forces.

The covenant sets out a series of principles and commitments that build on the close relationship that QinetiQ already has with the Armed Forces, through our Reservist-friendly business policies, our support to the military, and our charity work.

We are one of the country’s leading defence suppliers and an employer of both reservists and ex-members of the Armed Forces; it is only natural that we would want to show the regard and respect that everybody at QinetiQ has for service personnel, their families, and the responsibilities they shoulder.

Steve Wadey, QinetiQ CEO, said: "It is vital to recognise the role of our reservists, who go the extra mile in serving our country. They make a valuable contribution to our company by helping us to understand a key customer, and to the Armed Forces through their innovation and commercial expertise. I have signed the Covenant because I strongly believe it is important for companies to support and encourage those who wish to go above and beyond in the name of public service."

The commitments we make in the new Covenant are already being delivered through our Ex-Forces and Reserves programme, which has received positive feedback from the MOD. As a result, QinetiQ has named QinetiQ as a Gold Award winner in its Defence Employer Recognition Scheme for 2016.

The scheme recognises UK employers that demonstrate a commitment to defence by proactively supporting the armed forces community and inspiring others to do the same. To achieve Gold Award status, a company must uphold recruitment policies that are positive to people in and leaving the armed forces, creating opportunities for service personnel such as cadet instructors, veterans (including wounded, injured and sick), and military spouses and partners. It must enable reservists to fulfil their annual training and mobilisation commitments and support their reintegration once back at work.

Allison Lambert is Aviation Manager for QinetiQ’s Weapons business, and a Navy reservist specialising in air traffic control. She said: "After serving in the Royal Navy for almost 30 years, I didn’t want to cut my ties when starting a new career. Becoming a reservist has allowed me to maintain my military contacts and give something back to the Navy for its investment in my training. The great advantage for me is the mutual exchange of information that comes from being part of both industry and military. We have a common understanding that makes it easier to get the job done.